|
|||||
| Return to 2005 News Releases | |||||
|
|
News
Release |
||||
|
Foote says Premier missed the boat November 30, 2005
|
|||||
|
Judy Foote, Opposition Critic for Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
and MHA for the District of Grand Bank, says it is not acceptable for
Premier Williams to ignore important issues facing the fishing industry of
this province and expect, by writing one token letter to federal party
leaders during an election campaign, to absolve himself of any
responsibility for issues facing the fishery. "This Premier and his government must explain why they waited over two years before putting these important issues in writing to Ottawa," said Foote. "The Premier has continuously told those who are engaged in the fishery that he has been, in his words, "all over the file". "To find out that Premier Williams’ government failed to write a single letter on these issues for over two years is an insult to every Newfoundlander and Labradorian. Even more galling is that he stood in the House of Assembly and patted himself on the back for writing a letter to the party leaders on issues of such significance to our province. In my opinion it is too little too late. "Custodial management is crucial to the future of our natural resources and I was shocked to discover that the Premier has not even written the federal government on the issue. Similarly, those in the fishing industry have been calling on government to negotiate an early retirement package so that they could step away from the industry with dignity, yet all the government has done to date is pay lip service to the matter. Now, because the Premier has written a letter, without providing any details on the number of people who will be impacted or any reference to the age of retirement that should be considered, he expects a positive response from each of the federal leaders. The only thing a positive response from each of the federal leaders will mean is the beginning of months of negotiating, something that should have started two years ago. "Once again the Premier has shown his lack of understanding and concern for those who work in the fishing industry. It is only because fishing issues are being raised daily by those in the industry, and in the opposition, that the Premier has put them on his wish list. This is an example of a government having to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to make the fishery a priority." |
|||||
|
Media Contact: |
|||||
